EL ESPINAR/SEGOVIA, July 30, 2021
Frenchman Hugo Grenier advanced to his second semi-final on the ATP Challenger Tour this season following a straight-set win over Spanish top seed Feliciano Lopez at the 30th edition of the Open Castilla y Leon Villa de El Espinar.
On a sunny Friday afternoon in the province of Segovia, the World No. 246 capitalized on three of his 11 break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 34 minutes. Lopez will next travel to the United States, as he was awarded a wild card into the main of the ATP 500 Citi Open in Washington.
“I am happy with this win today,” Grenier said. “It was a bit like yesterday. The first set was not easy but step by step it became better. I will play my second semi-final here and I hope to reach the final on Sunday.”
Next up for Grenier will be Tim van Rijthoven. The 24-year-old from the Netherlands edged out No. 7 seed Mathias Bourgue of France 6-4, 7-6(3) in one hour and 43 minutes.
“I served very well today. I didn’t give him a lot of chances,” van Rijthoven said. “There was a lot of pressure on his serve games as he knew that he would not gonna break me. The second set was tight but I managed to pull out the tie-break.”
Bonzi to face Morena de Alboran
In the bottom half of the draw, No. 2 seed Benjamin Bonzi ended the run of 18-year-old Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina. The World No. 111 broke the teenager’s serve two times to secure a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and nine minutes.
Bonzi will next play Nicolas Morena de Alboran. The qualifier from the United States upset No. 8 seed and last week’s Open Ciuaded de Pozoblanco champion Altug Celikbiliek from Turkey 6-4, 6-2. The World No. 409 outpointed his rival 59-44 after 66 minutes.
Nacho Truyol, la figura detrás de la gran revelación del Open Castilla y León Villa de El Espinar, Nicolas Moreno de Alborán@Deportesjcyl @Ayto_ElEspinar @DipuSG @ATPChallenger https://t.co/GrT921dYkm pic.twitter.com/8Oianw30n3
— Tenis El Espinar (@Tenis_Espinar) July 30, 2021
Three US-Americans to appear in the doubles final
Saturday’s action at El Espinar will start with the doubles final. Top seeds Robert Galloway and Alex Lawson from the United States will take on US-American JC Aragone and Nicolas Barrientos of Colombia followed by the singles semis.
Orden de juego de sábado 31 de julio del Open Castilla y León Villa de El Espinar pic.twitter.com/9JVezjyS9b
— Tenis El Espinar (@Tenis_Espinar) July 30, 2021
